Music Theater Works is proud to announce the cast and creative team for the second production of its 2025 season, Fiddler on the Roof, in the George Van Dusen Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, August 7 - 17. Fiddler on the Roof, with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, is directed by L. Walter Stearns, choreographed by Marla Lampert and music directed by Eugene Dizon.
The schedule includes a preview performance Thursday, Aug. 7 at 2 p.m. with the press opening Friday, Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. The performance schedule is Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m., with additional performances on Wednesday Aug. 13 at 2 p.m.; Thursday Aug. 14 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday Aug. 15 at 2 p.m.; Friday Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 16 at 2 p.m. Tickets are now on sale from $19.50 to $89 with tickets for guests 25 years old and younger available at half-price at MusicTheaterWorks.com or by calling the Music Theater Works box office at the North Shore Center, 847.673.6300. Group discounts are also available for groups of 10 or more by contacting 847.920.5360.
Fiddler on the Roof shares the happiness and tears of a tight-knit Jewish community in Czarist Russia. Tevye, the town’s milkman, finds the long-held traditions that define his faith and family are threatened by a modern world that is encroaching on his beloved town of Anatevka. Music Theater Works production includes a stellar cast and an orchestra of 19 conducted by Valerie Gebert.
The cast of Fiddler on the Roof includes, in alphabetical order: Nathan Ancheta (he/him, Mendel/ensemble/ Motel U/S); Andrew Bosworth (he/him, Constable/ensemble); David Blakeman (he/them, Mordcha/ensemble); Henry Cartaya (he/him, swing); Christine Cummins (she/her, Fruma Sarah/ensemble/Hodel U/S /Shaindel U/S); Sarah Donofrio (she/her, ensemble/Tzeitel U/S); Daniel Hurst (he/him, Russian dancer/ ensemble/Fyedka U/S); Erol Ibrahimović (he/him, Russian dancer/ensemble); Emma Peri Jacobson (she/her, ensemble/Golde U/S); Madison Jaffe-Richter (she/her, Chava); Nathan Kabara (he/they, Motel); Charlotte (Charlie) Ko (she/her, youth ensemble/Bielke U/S); Josephine (Jojo) Ko (she/her, youth ensemble/Shprintze U/S); Douglas Levin (he/him, Rabbi/ensemble); Alex Merkel (she/her, ensemble/Chava U/S); Jake Mickel (he/him, Fyedka); Sam Nachison (he/him, Tevye); Elissa Newcorn (she/her, Hodel); Eva Lynn Nicholson (she/her, Fiddler/ensemble); David Rabinowitz (he/him, external Tevye U/S); Aubrey Rosenthal (she/her, Shprintze); Adeline Rosenthal (she/her, Bielke); Jenny Rudnick (she/her, Shaindel/ensemble/Yente U/S); David Servillo (he/him, Lazar Wolf/ensemble); Jacob Simon (he/they, Perchik); Mitzi Smith (she/her, Golde); Sara Stern (she/her, Yente); Chris Toft (he/him, Nachum/ensemble/ Rabbi U/S/Mardcha U/S) Madison Uphoff (she/her, Tzeitel) and Alex Villaseñor (he/him, Russian dancer/ensemble/Constable U/S).
Fiddler on the Roof’s creative team is L. Walter Stearns (he/him, director); Marla Lampert (she/her, choreographer); Eugene Dizon (he/him, music director); Rabbi Rachel Weiss (she/her, cultural consultant); Amber Wuttke (she/her, fight and intimacy coordinator); Kathy Logelin (she/her, dialect coach); Blue Darner Dupuis (they/them, stage manager); Charlie Levinson (they/she, assistant stage manager); Bob Knuth (he/him, scenic designer); Ab Rieve (they/them, properties designer); kClare McKellaston (she/her, costume designer); Kristen Brinati (she/her, wardrobe head); Melanie Saso (she/her, hair/wig/makeup designer); Alice Salazar (she/her, assistant hair/wig/makeup designer); Andrew Meyers (he/him, lighting designer); Avery Ledger (she/her, media designer); Stefanie M. Senor (she/they, sound designer), Chelsea Lynn (she/her, master electrician/board programmer); Forrest Gregor (he/him, production sound engineer); Will Hughes (he/him, scenic shop) and Ben Lipinski (any with respect, paint charge)
“Behind the Curtain with Thomas M. Shea”
Immediately following the Sunday, Aug.10 matinee, audiences may join musical theater historian Thomas M. Shea, author of “Broadway’s Most Wanted,” for a post-show talk exploring the behind-the-scenes history of Fiddler on the Roof.
Binny’s Broadway Lounge
Music Theater Works’ Donors of any level and subscribers are welcome to access Binny’s Broadway Lounge before the performance and at intermission of Fiddler on the Roof. Binny’s Broadway Lounge, sponsored by Binny’s Beverage Depot, is located on the second floor at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie and offers complimentary drinks and snacks and does not require reservations. The Lounge is available during Fiddler on the Roof, Sunday, Aug. 10 and Sunday, Aug. 17 (opens at 1 p.m.).
ASL Interpreted Performance
The Friday, Aug. 15 at 7:30 p.m. performance will be ASL interpreted by Bronwyn Schlaefer and Michael Albert of Z Interpreting.
ABOUT L. WALTER STEARNS DIRECTOR
L. Walter Stearns is a champion for Chicago artists and has overseen the physical and cultural revival of the beautiful Mercury Theater Chicago. He has directed over 40 musicals including his Jeff Award-winning productions of Jersey Boys (co-director with Brenda Didier), Spamalot, The Addams Family and Ragtime as well as the Jeff Award nominated productions of Mary Poppins, The Producers, The Addams Family, Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Barnum-The Circus Musical, The Christmas Schooner, Nine the Musical, Ragtime, Gypsy, The Secret Garden, Sweeney Todd, Company, A New Brain, Into the Woods, Merrily We Roll Along and Falsettos. He was pleased to produce The Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes, which was awarded the Jeff Award for New Work. He opened the new Venus Cabaret Theater with Stephen Sondheim’s Company and Stephen Schwartz’s Pippin. Stearns has received Jeff Awards, BroadwayWorld Awards, After Dark Awards, the Larry Sloan Advocate Award (for his support of Season of Concern), the first Guy Adkins award for his contributions to the art of musical theatre and the Franny Award as a distinguished alumnus of the University of Illinois at Chicago.
ABOUT MARLA LAMPERT, CHOREOGRAPHER
Marla Lampert is happy to be a part of Fiddler on the Roof at Music Theatre Works. She is based in Chicago where her work has been seen at many regional theatres, including The Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Court Theatre and Drury Lane Oakbrook. She choreographed the five-year Sondheim Celebration at The Ravinia Festival. These productions were directed by Lonny Price, musical direction by Paul Gemignani and featured Patti LuPone, George Hearn, Audra McDonald and Michael Cerveris. This series included a production of Passion, which was later remounted for “Live From Lincoln Center” on PBS, and received an Emmy Award for special programming.
Lampert served as an artistic associate at Apple Tree Theatre, where her choreography was showcased in many of their musicals. She has received four Joseph Jefferson nominations for Outstanding Choreography and received the award for Kiss of the Spider Woman, directed by Gary Griffin. She also received a Carbonell Award nomination for her choreography in the world premiere of At Wit’s End, at Florida Stage, and an After Dark Award for her choreography of How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.
In addition to her theatre projects, she directs and choreographs many corporate and industrial productions for such clients as The Chicago Bar Association, Allstate and The Pampered Chef. She loves to work with theatre students in outreach and educational programs and is a member of the Society of Directors and Choreographers.
ABOUT EUGENE DIZON, MUSIC DIRECTOR
Eugene Dizon returns to Music Theater Works after music directing The Producers and Avenue Q. He is currently the executive director at Mercury Theater Chicago with his husband L. Walter Stearns. He has been musical directing for over two decades garnering six Jeff Awards while at Porchlight Music Theatre (Ragtime, Sweeney Todd, Amadeus, Company, Into the Woods, Merrily We Roll Along), as well as Jeff nominations for A Little Night Music (Theo Ubique); Jersey Boys and A Grand Night for Singing (Mercury); Candide, Nine the Musical, Closer Than Ever, A Little Night Music, Passion, Colette Collage, and Falsettos; four After Dark Awards for Ragtime, Sweeney Todd, A New Brain, Merrily We Roll Along at Porchlight, a BroadwayWorld Award for Mercury’s Avenue Q. Additionally at the Mercury, he has music directed Young Frankenstein, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Spamalot, Pippin, Company, The Producers and Barnum. Dizon has been inducted into the Chicago Filipino Hall of Fame (class of 2004) and has co-produced 6 “Season of Carols” CDs for which Season of Concern awarded him the 2013 Larry Sloan Advocate Award and the Season of Concern 2018 Larry Sloan Legacy Award for “consistently and passionately being a trailblazer on behalf of Season of Concern.” His most recent projects include TO BE (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre) and Mr. Burns – a post-electric play (Theater Wit).
ABOUT VALERIE GEBERT, CONDUCTOR
Valerie Gebert has enjoyed a lengthy career as music director/conductor/keyboardist with national and international tours of Broadway musicals including Six, The Lion King, Wicked, Anastasia, Cinderella, Finding Neverland, The Addams Family, Cabaret, Joseph…, Sound Of Music, West Side Story, A Chorus Line and Hello, Dolly! She has worked regionally at St. Louis MUNY, Berkley Rep, California Music Theater and University of Michigan’s world-renowned Music Theater Program. Originally from Fargo, North Dakota, Maze now makes her home in Chicago where she was the associate conductor of the Goodman Theatre’s pre-Broadway run of The Who’s TOMMY.
COMING UP FROM MUSIC THEATER WORKS
Music Theater Works’ 2025 season continues with Godspell, October 23 – November 16, and concludes with a holiday run of Annie, December 18 - January 4, 2026All performances are at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd.
ABOUT MUSIC THEATER WORKS
Music Theater Works is a resident professional not-for-profit music theater founded in
1980. During its 44-year history it has presented more than 150 productions and intimate presentations. Music Theater Works is a professional theater company whose mission is to present works for the musical stage including historic repertoire, revitalizing the Golden Age of Broadway and earlier works, celebrating the Great American Songbook and introducing modern classics.
Music Theater Works presents
Fiddler on the Roof
August 7 - 17
George Van Dusen Theatre
North Shore Center For The Performing Arts In Skokie
9501 Skokie Blvd.
Skokie, IL 60077
Book by Joseph Stein
Music by Jerry Bock
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Directed by L. Walter Stearns
Choreographed by Marla Lampert
Music Directed by Eugene Dizon
Show dates and times:
- Thursday, August 7 – 2 p.m. – Preview
- Friday, August 8 – 7 p.m. – Press Performance
- Saturday, August 9 – 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, August 10 – 2 p.m. – Binny’s Broadway Lounge (opens at 1 p.m.) and “Behind the Curtain with Thomas M. Shea” immediately following the performance.
- Wednesday, August 13 – 2 p.m.
- Thursday, August 14 – 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, August 15 – 7:30 p.m. – ASL Interpreted
- Saturday, August 16 – 2 p.m.
- Saturday, August 16 – 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, August 17 – 2 p.m. – Binny’s Broadway Lounge (opens at 1 p.m.)
Tickets: $19.50 to $89, tickets for guests 25 years old and younger are available for half-price.
Music Theater Works Box Office: (847) 673-6300
Website: MusicTheaterWorks.com
Run Time (currently): (including the intermission) Three hours and 20 minutes
COMING UP FROM MUSIC THEATER WORKS
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
The George Van Dusen Theatre
August 7 - 17
Press Night: Friday, Aug. 8 at 7 p.m.
Book by Joseph Stein
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Music by Jerry Bock
Directed by L. Walter Stearns
Choreographed by Marla Lampert
Music Directed by Eugene Dizon
Fiddler on the Roof shares the happiness and tears of a tight-knit Jewish community in Czarist Russia. Tevye, the town’s milkman, finds the long-held traditions that define his faith and family are threatened by a modern world that is encroaching on his beloved Anatevka. Don’t miss this lush and memorable score as it's performed by Music Theater Works with a stellar cast and full orchestra.
GODSPELL
North Theatre
October 23 - November 16
Press Night: Friday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.
Production Sponsor: Whirled Peas Foundation
In Partnership with Curt’s Cafe
Book by John Michael Tebelak
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Directed by Matthew Silar
Music Directed by Justin Akira Kono
Day by day for more than 50 years, audiences have delighted in this modern musical fable that weaves together music, improv and infectious pop and rock songs. This Godspell finds a fractured and disconnected community gathered at a local diner discovering the transformative power of forgiveness and embracing radical love.
ANNIE
The George Van Dusen Theatre
Dec 18, 2025 - Jan 4, 2026
Press Opening: Friday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m.
Music by Charles Strouse
Lyrics by Martin Charnin
Book by Thomas Meehan
Directed by Producing Artistic Director Kyle A. Dougan
For more than 100 years, the beloved story of a spunky, red-headed orphan who lands a holiday stay with Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks, a billionaire trying to do good has delighted and inspired audiences around the world. Perfect for the holidays and the whole family, Annie, winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, features some of the greatest musical theatre hits ever written including “Tomorrow,” “NYC,” “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile” and others.